BROOKES, HICKMAN AND FHO RACING REMAIN TOGETHER FOR THE 2024 SEASON
The FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team is delighted to announce that Josh Brookes and Peter Hickman will continue with the team next season in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and on the Roads, as team owner Faye Ho announced her 2024 plans at the weekend at Snetterton.
Since its launch in 2021, FHO Racing has become a dominant force in the British Championship as well as on the roads, and signing two-time British Champion Brookes for this season showed the teams’ desire to succeed in BSB.
Enjoying a good start to the year, Brookes finished on the podium in second and third, as well as claiming a race win aboard the BMW M 1000 RR at the opening round. Currently sitting fourth overall Brookes is still very much a title contender for the 2023 season. Having won two races, he has also collected three second place finishes and two third places with just five rounds completed this year.
Alongside the British Championship, FHO Racing has achieved high levels of success at the Isle of Man TT Races with Hickman, where in the team’s debut year in 2022 they won the Superbike, Superstock and the Senior TT Races. At this year’s event Hicky and FHO showed their dominance again, going on to win both Superstock races, smashing the outright TT lap record in the second race and finished the week victorious in the Senior TT.
With both riders retained early for 2024, the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team can breathe sigh of relief that they have next season already sorted and can look forward to the remainder of this season in the British Superbike Championship.
Josh Brookes:
“I think it is often the case that it takes a good portion of a year before any rider will settle properly with a new bike and team combination, so I think it is common to do multi-year contracts to see the best potential. I have always done a year-by-year deal, but in the past I have always stayed and done multi-years with the same team for that reason. I think it makes sense for me to that again and we are just improving the bike now and I think the results can improve a lot and so it was quite an easy decision and I had no reservations when I had the opportunity to extent the contract for another year and stay with the team. The crew, team and management are all first class and I am happy to continue on. It is also a little bonus to be secure in the future so you can concentrate clearly on the job that we are doing and not have to worry about what might be next year. From my side it is all very positive and I am pleased to announce this early in the year where I will be for next year.”
Peter Hickman:
“I am mega happy to be signed up so early in particular in the season ready for next year. I think it has been a good year for Josh, but it has not been a great year for me in BSB, obviously the roads have been strong for me. But not really BSB even though I have shown promise here and there like qualifying on the front row at Oulton Park and stuff. I am really happy to keep the team together really. It has worked out really well this year and the team dynamic has really worked. As much as my results haven’t been there it is not through lack of trying and it is not because we are not capable. It has just been one of those things. To get signed up this early to get sorted is absolutely mega and I am looking forward to see what we can do for the rest of this year for a start and see where we end up by the end and then see what we can do in 2024. It takes the pressure off in a lot of different ways and I am super excited about it all. It is good to get sorted!”
Faye Ho – Team Principal:
“I’m really happy to announce that both Josh and Pete will be staying with us in 2024. We’ve got a really strong team and we’ve showed that with the results on the Roads, and also with what Josh has done so far in BSB this year. Everyone works together so well and the dynamic between the riders is just fantastic, so we had no reason to disrupt that for next season, just continue on what we have been building. I think it also takes a lot of pressure off everyone getting it all sorted early, so no one is guessing what’s going to happen. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season with Josh and Pete and working with them again next year, hopefully we can be on the top step of the championship – that’s the goal I’m looking for!”
Imola is a classic WorldSBK venue, offering thrilling races and a vibrant atmosphere. The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari carries a rich history and hosted some of the finest WorldSBK battles such as the Bayliss-Edwards’ Showdown in 2002.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the 2001 Race 2 at Imola, the victory was decided by a razor-thin margin of just 0.021 seconds separating Regis Laconi and Ruben Xaus, making it the closest finish in the circuit’s history.
IMOLA’S HOT SPOTS WITH TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU
T2-3/ “I enjoy the first sector. In some corners you cannot see as they have blind entries. The first sector is fine and it becomes quite difficult afterwards. The first straight isn’t exactly straight, it’s a long curve before entering the first of four chicanes – Variante Tamburello. This chicane is not small or tight – it’s quite a big one … left, right then a curve on the exit.”
T7/” This is the only real hairpin, with a big climb on the exit. It’s slightly off-camber here. This is a good corner for braking. And you need good acceleration on the way out to arrive at T9. It is all uphill, so you need to carry good the speed with you.”
T18/ “It’s a curving downhill section followed by two left corners. I always like an old school track and an old school bike. I am going to ride here on my Yamaha for the first time.”
WorldSBK | KEY STAT
100
With three podium finishes at Donington Park, Toprak Razgatlioglu has now accumulated a total of 99 podiums, leaving him just one step away from reaching the impressive milestone of 100.
What to look out for in Imola
As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship arrives at the historic Imola circuit, anticipation is building for a thrilling weekend of racing.
Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), currently leading the Championship standings, will be eager to make his mark at Imola, Ducati’s home round. With solid past results at this circuit, including a third-place finish in the Tissot Superpole Race and a second-place finish in Race 1 in 2019, Bautista knows what it takes to excel on this demanding track as he looks to add valuable points to his championship campaign and claim his first victory at the historic circuit.
Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) is on the verge of a significant milestone as he stands at 99 podium finishes. Imola presents a golden opportunity for him to reach the impressive milestone of 100 podiums. Despite it being his first time racing at Imola with Yamaha, Razgatlioglu will be pushing hard to achieve this feat and continue his strong form at Imola.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) will be aiming to climb up the championship standings. Imola has been a happy hunting ground for Rea in the past, with his exceptional record at this circuit including 9 victories (among them the last four WorldSBK races at Imola). As he looks to close the gap in the championship race, Rea will spare no effort in his pursuit of success.
Another rider to watch out for is Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who recently celebrated his first podium finish at Donington Park. Competing on home soil, the Italian rider will strive to build on his recent success and deliver a strong performance at Imola.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), currently holding third position in the championship standings, faces a unique challenge as he takes on Imola for the first time with a Superbike. The Yamaha rider will be eager to adapt quickly to the demanding circuit and maintain his strong position in the championship battle.
The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team will aim to carry forward their momentum after Scott Redding’s solid fourth-place finish in Race 2 at Donington Park. There’s a question mark over Redding’s teammate for the round, as Tom Sykes will be out injured after his Race 2 crash at Donington Park, whilst Michael van der Mark hopes to come back, but will only do so if he’s feeling fit enough.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Classic Italian Venue Next For Lowes And Rea
Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea (65) and Alex Lowes (22) in action at the previous round at Donington Park. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes will journey to the iconic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola circuit in Italy for the seventh round of the 2023 WorldSBK championship, which will be held between 14-16 July.
The once regular WorldSBK venue of Imola makes a somewhat unexpected welcome return to the calendar this season, offering a second immersive Italian experience after the fifth round was held at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in early June.
Both KRT riders have competed on WorldSBK machinery at Imola before, although Lowes is about to race his official Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR there for the first time.
Rea has scored no fewer than nine of his record 118 career race wins at Imola, the most recent six of his Imola successes in partnership with KRT. His first Imola win was in 2011 and his most recent two were taken the last time WorldSBK raced there, in 2019.
Lowes is yet to score a podium at Imola but has already taken a top-three finish this season, at Mandalika, in early March.
In what has been a challenging campaign at times due to current Championship rules that compromise the ultimate racing potential of the Ninja ZX-10RR, Rea is fourth in the championship rankings and Lowes is seventh after six of 12 rounds have been completed.
The 4.936km Imola circuit is as unique as it is renowned, with no fewer than four chicanes of various designs and speeds. The layout backs onto the Santerno River on two sides, limiting any potential enlargement of the long, narrow paddock. The historic town of Imola is in plain view at its eastern end while the circuit itself encloses both the community-owned Acque Minerali park and even some private residences inside its heavily undulating layout.
After the Imola event, Autodrom Most hosts the Czech Round of WorldSBK, between 28-30 July. A five weekend-long summer break follows immediately after.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “When I saw Imola was back on the calendar I was already looking forward to this one. It is a great track with a real atmosphere. You feel very close to the fans, especially with the paddock being so closely-knit and intimate. The circuit is steeped in history. It has a nice layout, undulations and some of the most iconic sections of track in the world. I am looking forward to getting there and we have good memories from 2019. With a lot of data I hope we can start Friday with a strong set-up and continue being competitive, like we were at Donington last time out. It is important to try to stay on the podium and try to score some good points for our championship battles, because we will move on to Most soon after. These next two rounds, in Italy and the Czech Republic, mark a part of the championship where we want to capitalise and be strong. I cannot wait to get stuck in.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “Imola is an historic track which has seen some amazing WorldSBK battles, most notably the Edwards/Bayliss scrap to decide the championship during the 2002 season. The layout itself is quite challenging with fast and slow changes of direction and also some elevations and drops. We haven’t ridden there since 2019 but it is a track I really enjoy. It is an ‘old school’ style of circuit, which is quite challenging physically, especially in the hot temperatures that have been forecast for race weekend. My target, as always, is to get off to a good start on Friday so we can challenge for the podiums on Saturday and Sunday – and of course have some fun.”
Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti racing) will ride for his Italian-based team once more, this time at the second home round for the Puccetti squad, which is based in Reggio Emilia – a relatively short drive along the Autostrada network from Imola.
Oliver König (Orelac Racing Movisio Kawasaki) and Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing Kawasaki) continue their seasons at Imola, looking to score championship points.
Bridgestone, 4SR USA and Markbilt Racebikes Sponsor Open Two Stroke Class Featuring MotoGP™ Bikes at AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16
Monterey, CA – The sound and aroma of classic MotoGP bikes are back at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Ralph Staropoli will race a 1992 ROC YZR500 and Dave Frick will race a 1992 Harris YZR500. Adrian Jasso will add even more exotic flair on his Suter MMX 500.
They will all be competing in the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Open Two Stroke race which is part of the AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey July 15th and 16th.
All racers in the Open Two Stroke class will compete for a cash purse provided by a group of individual AHRMA racers. Additional support from 4SR USA and Markbilt Racebikes has increased the purse to $4,500.
Bridgestone Motorcycles Tires will provide a set of race tires to the winners of each of these following tiers within Saturday’s Open Two Stroke race: 125cc, 250cc, and more than 250cc.
Learn more at AHRMA.org. Spectators can purchase tickets here.
About Bridgestone
Bridgestone Tires is the 2023 AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing series sponsor and offers tires for all types of motorcycles.
About 4SR USA Inc
4SR USA produces stylish and functional motorcycle clothing of the highest quality. As active bikers and competitors, all of their designs, materials, development, and testing are performed by them and their sponsored riders. Their personal experience and the experience of their sponsored riders give them the ability to continuously produce gear that is innovative, safe, and stylish.
About Markbilt Racebikes
Markbiltracebikes LLC has been owned and operated by former racer and motorcycle enthusiast Mark Rozema since 1998. Not only does Markbilt take pride in building race worthy motorcycles, but also in tuning , suspension , fabrication, welding and chassis service.
About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957 and was known at the time as Laguna Seca Raceway. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is owned by the County of Monterey and operated by A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC.
The 2023 premier event schedule includes the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16, the Monterey Pre-Reunion August 12-13, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 16-19, Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day August 20, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey September 8-10 and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 September 28 – October 1.
ABOUT AHRMA
American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Varese, 11th July 2023 – The “America” versions of MV Agusta pay tribute to the United States, the land of the free, adventure, epic journeys. And, naturally, racing.
1973 saw the launch of the iconic 750S, which flaunted the colours of the American flag to highlight the importance of this specific market. Many years later, in 2004, the “America” name became associated with another model, the Brutale 750. This motorcycle created the sports naked segment. 2012 saw another four-cylinder steal the scene: the Brutale 1090 RR America. This model was the most powerful naked ever produced by MV Agusta up to that point.
Five years later, in 2017, a new platform was introduced which gave birth to the three-cylinder Brutale 800 RR America which stood out for its combination of design, performance, and engine technology. This model was followed, in 2018, by the Dragster 800 RR America, an exclusive limited edition model of only 200 units.
Today, in 2023, MV Agusta celebrates its most important market with a new, exclusive 300-unit edition of the new Dragster RR SCS America. This uniquely numbered special edition model, available only in North America, is part of the strategic vision and emphasis of this market for the future of MV Agusta.
This new Special Edition stands out for its dedicated colour scheme that, like its predecessors, recalls the colours of the US flag and is enhanced with a dedicated seat with hand-stitched “America Special Edition” wording.
The attention to detail can be seen in the aerodynamic carbon-fiber wheel cover, complete with dedicated colour scheme, as well as on the fuel tank. The individual series number – from 001 to 300 – is laser-engraved on the top triple clamp.
The accompanying Special Parts Kit includes the transparent SCS clutch cover, dedicated motorcycle cover and a certificate of authenticity. Standing out among the special parts available as accessories is the Akrapovič titanium sports exhaust with dedicated ECU, which allows for an increase in maximum power to 148 hp at 12,800 rpm, further emphasizing the motorcycle’s aggressive character.
Based on the renowned Dragster RR SCS, this unique motorcycle combines exciting performance with premium technical components, including the SCS automatic clutch developed in collaboration with Rekluse.
The Dragster RR SCS America combines extreme attention to detail, with the technical base of a super sports bike. The compact and powerful in-line-three engine coupled with the afore mentioned SCS 3.0 clutch, which eliminates the need for the clutch lever, and the MotoGP-derived counter-rotating crankshaft and removable gearbox, are solutions that can only be found on MV Agusta models.
The electronic Ride By Wire twist grip includes counter rotation, which was only recently introduced to the range, and improves control and feeling mid-turn and makes for a more progressive cruise control deactivation. The advanced 6-axes inertial platform allows the rider to fully exploit the traction control, front-lift control and ABS with cornering function.
The 8-level adjustable steering damper adds to the dynamics and safety of the Dragster RR SCS America, even at high speeds. The braking system is designed to ensure extremely powerful and safe deceleration thanks to the dual 320 mm front brake discs with four-piston Brembo radial calipers.
The 5.5” TFT display is very easy to read in all light conditions and benefits from updated software.
The dashboard interfaces with the revolutionary MV Ride App offering a variety of customisation and connectivity features. Lastly, the Mobisat anti-theft system with geolocation offers all Dragster RR SCS America’s owners piece of mind knowing that their Motorcycle Art will always be very well looked after.
The Dragster RR SCS America will be available exclusively at select MV Agusta dealerships across North America, starting from 11th July.
MotoGP™ partners NSN to usher in new era of fan events
A new three-year agreement will give fans even more opportunities to get involved with their favourite sport – starting at the 2023 finale in Valencia
Monday, 10 July 2023
MotoGP™ is all about the fans, and as the Tissot Sprint and incredible array of fan activities continue to light up the track at each Grand Prix, there will soon be even more to look forward to for MotoGP™’s millions of devotees around the world. A new three-year agreement with NSN (Never say Never) is set to usher in a new era of fan-centred entertainment events and experiences, and it’s all set to start at the 2023 season finale in Valencia.
A NEW ERA OF EVENTS
This new partnership sees MotoGP™ rights holder Dorna Sports join forces with NSN, organiser of the OMG La Liga Music Experience, to stage events together throughout the next three years, the first of which will celebrate the history-making 2023 season in style with a new-look FIM MotoGP™ Awards ceremony in Valencia. The reimagined event will open the doors to fans and let them see their heroes rewarded for another incredible season – alongside some topflight musical guests and performances.
It won’t stop there. The 2023 Awards will be the first event as part of this new three-year partnership, but there’s plenty more in the pipeline. NSN will organise fan-centred music events alongside MotoGP™ for the duration of the agreement, expanding an already impressive MotoGP™ weekend experience to offer even more entertainment and adrenaline at a number of Grands Prix across the calendar.
FANS ARE THE FOCUS
Each event will put fans at the centre of the experience, whether it be opening the doors to the end of season Awards or offering exclusive concerts and music events at different Grands Prix. MotoGP™ offers an incredible timetable of world-leading action on track, but the party doesn’t need to stop there.
Established fans will find even more at their fingertips thanks to this new partnership, ensuring a Grand Prix delivers adrenaline-packed track action, the chance to meet their heroes AND world class music events in the evening. Newer audiences who are starting to discover the world’s most exciting motorsport will find out just how true that is – with action on and off track to offer a full weekend of incredible entertainment.
Vicenç Fábregas, Head of Live Experience, NSN (left) with Dorna Sports Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta (right). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Vicenç Fábregas, Head of Live Experience, NSN: “Collaborating with Dorna, a worldwide reference institution, consolidates our vision of merging worlds and breaking barriers in entertainment. At NSN, we are very committed to providing an enhanced entertainment product and offering unique experiences. Our goal with this partnership is to surpass the expectations of motorcycling fans and create an unforgettable event that combines the thrill of racing with the spectacle of live entertainment.”
Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer, Dorna Sports: “We’re super happy to be able to announce this new agreement with NSN and reveal another of these new, fan-focused events. A fan’s experience of a Grand Prix doesn’t pause when the bikes go back into pitlane, and we’ve already added some awesome extra experiences at the track – things like the Hero Walk, the Sprint podium, track invasions, the rider parade – to really maximise their experience. But there’s always more we can offer and we’re always thinking about how we can level it up.
“When you’re travelling to a MotoGP event, and many fans do so for various days, we want you to enjoy every possible second of it. On track, we already have an amazing show and off track, we can now increasingly say the same. Introducing a refreshed and augmented Awards ceremony offers us the perfect opportunity to invite fans to celebrate the end of the season with us and for the sport to reach new audiences, combining a celebration of MotoGP with some of the biggest names in music. So we’re excited to work with NSN and add another highlight to some Grands Prix weekends, both for our faithful fans and as another incentive for new audiences to discover the world’s most exciting motorsport.”
About NSN
NSN (Never say Never) is a global company specialized in blurring barriers between sport and entertainment to create new opportunities for brands and talents. Founded in 2018, NSN started as a representation and brokerage agency in the soccer business, with players such as Andrés Iniesta, Brahim Díaz, Bojan Krkić, Sergi Samper or, Junior Firpo. Throughout its five years of existence, it has been diversifying its activity by entering the field of entertainment and currently represents soccer players, produces audiovisual content and documentaries, promotes its own projects such as Capitten as well as investing in startups such as Vicio; organizes entertainment events such as OMG! jointly with LaLiga or the match between Vissel Kobe and FC Barcelona in Tokyo; it is the sponsorship activation agency with TP Vision and Stage Front, and manages eSports accounts for clubs such as RCD Espanyol and Real Sociedad. NSN is currently a global entertainment and sports marketing company with different verticals that aims to respond to the service, communication, and content needs of its clients such as Sony Pictures, Rakuten, TP Vision, Stage Front, Ifeel, Konami, Springfield or Wallapop, among others. The company develops business from Barcelona and Madrid (Spain), Kobe (Japan), Lima (Peru), Seoul (South Korea), Mexico City (Mexico), and New York (USA).
About MotoGP™ & Dorna Sports
The FIM Grand Prix World Championship, MotoGP™, is the world’s most exciting motorsport. 22 of the fastest riders compete on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks, creating one of the most thrilling shows on Earth. Since it was inaugurated in 1949, the sport has grown to comprise 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world.
Dorna Sports became the sole commercial and television rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship in 1991. Based in Madrid, Spain, with premises in Barcelona and a subsidiary in Rome, the Dorna Group is a leader in sports management, marketing and media, and has seen continued growth over the years; expanding from solely MotoGP™ to include other leading motorcycle racing championships across the globe.
Team Obsolete is again bringing one of our Matchless G50s for Dave Roper to ride in the 500 Premier, along with his Aermacchi 350 in 350 Grand Prix. Walt Fulton will again ride our ex-factory Harley-Davidson XR750TT.
We hope that other competitors will dust off their G50s and Manx Nortons to breathe some needed life back into 500 Premier!
Team Obsolete thanks our sponsors Vanson Leathers, Redline Synthetic Oil, AVON TYRES, and Buchanan’s Spoke and Rim, Inc.
For the last three years Dynavolt have been our main partner and title sponsor of our team. For this year, 2023 we had verbally agreed to continue and were awaiting the signing of the contract. Just two days before we left for the opening round in Australia, the President of Dynavolt informed me that they would not be able to sign the contract due to a reduction in their marketing budget.
I have to say this was a big shock to me as everything was agreed. For sure this left me in a very difficult position to say the least. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dynavolt for the three years of valuable support and on behalf of PTR Triumph, thank the President, Leonard Chen, the Managing Director of Dynavolt Tech Thailand, James Nay and everyone at Dynavolt for your support.
I have worked with Triumph and have raised budget supporting other Triumph teams in Europe and looking towards 2024. Also, of course I have had to invest a lot of my own money to replace the big hole Dynavolt have left. I am passionate about racing so I do this in good faith.
We are working very closely with Triumph to introduce a new title partner in 2024 and we are confident from both sides. I would like to say to all our fans and supporters that all is well for the rest of 2023 due to everyone around me and all our loyal partners working together for the Triumph Racing Team.
We are still fifth in the Championship with Niki Tuuli despite the last two rounds being disappointing. We and Niki are working hard to overcome this. It is difficult as the lap time is there, it is just in the race he cannot overtake and struggles to maintain consistent times for the whole race.
Harry also is not progressing after starting well with an eleventh-place finish in Australia. As an ex-rider I know how hard it is to regain confidence when things are not going well but we will keep working with Harry to improve.
I know in the past criticism has been levelled at me for working with riders who bring support to the team. Some people call this ‘pay rides’ but in my view, it is not that way at all. It is just two parties working together to achieve their goals in the best way. Trust me, whilst we may have been one of the first teams to openly admit working in this way, we are nowhere near the team who is asking riders and their partners for the most support. I have always wanted to work in the best way with all our riders and where at all possible, to work with British riders to help develop British riders in World Championship racing.
In the case of Harry Truelove this was the case and in fact I turned down opportunities which would have brought more benefit to the team to give a British rider a chance to shine at World level. I did discuss with Harry and his dad Paul just what a huge step up in level World Supersport was from British Supersport right at the start of our discussions. This has proved to be the case and while we have seen glimpses of Harry making the step there is still a long way to go and we will do everything we can to help him make that step.
Sometimes people miss the point that in Supersport there is not so much that can be changed on the bike and whilst all bikes have different strengths and weaknesses, quite soon the rider has to adapt to getting the best from his bike and make it happen. Niki has done this at times and at others times not. We have done half the season and now it is time to make it happen together.
Gagne Scores Pair of Podiums in Sunday’s Superbike Doubleheader
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne keeps podium streak rolling at Laguna Seca to strengthen his MotoAmerica Superbike title defense
MARIETTA, Ga. – July 9, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne’s podium streak continued with a second and third-place finish in today’s MotoAmerica Superbike doubleheader at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The reigning champ’s 1-2-3 score on the weekend has him leaving the iconic Monterey, California, track with a 34-point lead in the championship with nine races remaining. Teammate Petersen bounced back from yesterday’s tough Race 1 to conclude the weekend with a pair of top-five finishes.
On the heels of yesterday’s victory, Gagne put in another championship ride at the doubleheader. In the first race of the day, he got a great start to claim the lead and put in some fast times early to try and break away, but he had his championship rival hot on his heels. The duo built a comfortable gap up front, and Gagne continued to knock down consistently fast laps but was passed with five laps to go and rode on to a runner-up finish.
In the final race of the weekend, Gagne was fourth and laid in wait behind a three-rider fight which included his teammate and championship rivals. On Lap 6, he passed Petersen, but the frontrunners had amassed a healthy gap ahead. Undeterred, Gagne picked up the pace to close the gap and was right behind them with four laps to go. On the final lap, he set the fastest lap of the race and advanced to the runner-up spot. Gagne crossed the line .118 of a second behind the leader but was ultimately credited with third after a two-second penalty was assessed for exceeding the track limits.
After a tough opening race of the weekend that saw him crash out of the lead on the exit of Turn 2, Petersen got a good start in today’s Race 2 from the second row of the grid in fifth. Although he was shuffled to seventh on Lap 3, he kept pushing and made his way back to the top five. In Race 3, Petersen executed another flying start to take the lead into Turn 2. It was an eventful opening lap that turned into a three-rider battle, with the South African putting in a good fight for the lead before being shuffled to third. After Gagne made his way through, he was holding down fourth but was passed with five laps to go, ending the day with another solid fifth-place finish.
Next up for the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team is Round 6 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 28-30.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Throughout the event, we made good progress and a significant step forward on the new surface and tires. We are happy with our progress. Jake rode well to catch the leaders in Race 3. I think the track limits penalty was extreme, considering the actual advantage that would be gained by jumping the green. If the goal is to emulate the world championship, then it should follow the world standards by giving track limits warnings to the riders and exacting punishments that fit the infraction.”
Jake Gagne (1) leading Cameron Beaubier (6) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“We had some good races on Sunday and made some great progress. In Race 3, those guys were messing around, and I was able to reel them in. I feel like I rode my butt off in that one, so regardless, I’m happy with how I rode. I’m happy for this team. They really helped me step it up this weekend. It definitely was some exciting racing today, and I’m excited to get to the next round!”
Cameron Petersen (45) leads PJ Jacobsen (99) and Richie Escalante (54) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Cameron Petersen – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“It was another tough weekend for me. The bike felt good, and so did I, but unfortunately I had a crash in Race 1. Race 2 and 3 were way better, and I was happy with my pace and got some good starts. At the end of the day, I just need to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and we will be fighting at the front.”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
Energica launches to first-ever EV race lead anywhere while breaking e-motorcycle record lap at Laguna Seca
Stefano Mesa (137) on his Energica Eva Ribelle RS. Photo courtesy Energica.
Stefano Mesa and Tytlers Cycle Racing have completed round five and six of the 2023 Super Hooligan National Championship, which took place at the WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway. This was another opportunity to shine for the Kit-Corsa-Clienti-equipped Energica Eva Ribelle RS, which in the capable hands of the 30-year-old Colombian rider wrote a new chapter in the history of motorcycling, as Roland Sands himself stated on commentary: “The first EV ever in the world to lead a race against ICE machinery”. Mesa exploited the immense torque of the Energica streetfighter machine to bend space and time and enter Turn One ahead of the rest of the field in Race One.
But it was Race Two that proved how the rider and the technical package are gelling together, as Mesa showed a whole different pace on Sunday and set his fastest lap in 1:31.272secs, a time that would have placed him on fourth place on the grid.
This lap-time also holds a very special meaning as it was one tenth of a second quicker of the previous, all-time two-wheeled electric lap record at Laguna Seca set by Steve Rapp in 2011, resulting in a new, historical lap record at the American raceway a dozen years afterwards while sharing the track with ICE motorcycles for a whole season – something that was never done before.
Stefano’s efforts did not go unnoticed by his peers: soon after Saturday’s Super Hooligan Race One, he had to take part in the grueling, extended 38-lap Supersport race. Many Supersport riders, including multiple MotoAmerica Superbike champion Josh Hayes praised Mesa’s speed, determination and stamina which led to a fourth-place finish in that race.
Access all resources
With a sixth and a fifth in the two Super Hooligan encounters, Mesa and Tytlers Cycle Racing are back to P6 in the overall championship standings and are only seven points away from the top five.
“Fantastic result. If you know everybody who’s behind Energica, you know this bike works. Stefano knows how to make it work and the team knows how to make it work. This is fabulous!” says Michael Kiley, Team Principal of Tytlers Cycle Racing and firm believer of the Made-in-Modena electric bike’s potential in the series.
With Laguna Seca being one of the most attended racetracks on the MotoAmerica calendar and considering the fact that is located in the most EV-friendly state in the USA, the stunning PETRONAS iona-liveried Eva Ribelle grabbed the attention of the many fans who joined in this time out. This included a number of Energica owners who rode from as far away as Los Angeles and San Diego to cheer on their hero, whose bikes crowded the entrance to Garage 20, seemingly standing guard over the #137 race bike itself.
Energica, Tytlers Cycle Racing and Stefano Mesa return to the action on September 8-10 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, for the final event of the season.
Click on the following links to watch the full encounters (YouTube) Race one – Race two
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
APRILIA RS 660 RIDERS LANDERS, RODIO, VICTORIOUS AT LAGUNA SECA FOR MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP DOUBLE HEADER
RODIO RACING – POWERED BY ROBEM ENGINEERING RIDERS WIN BY LARGE MARGINS IN BOTH CONTESTS, WITH GUS RODIO RETAKING POINTS LEAD
Six-time World Champion Max Biaggi (center) with Rocco Landers (left) and Gus Rodio (right). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
MONTEREY, CA – Laguna Seca is one of the most iconic racing circuits in the world and, this past weekend, was the scene of two commanding victories by Aprilia RS 660 riders. The Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering duo of Rocco Landers and Gus Rodio were the class of the MotoAmerica Twins Cup field. The pair recorded one win apiece, and each winning rider took the checkered flag least 16 seconds ahead of the rest of the field at the July 7-9 event.
Though Landers was unable to finish the second contest, both Landers and Rodio took turns being at the top of the Twins Cup points standings. And Rodio, who was the championship leader through the first two rounds of the season, heads to the next round with a three-point lead.
Friday morning practice commenced under slick track conditions due to overnight rain on the recently repaved circuit. That 40-minute session ended with Top Pro Motorsports’ Alex Arango as the fastest Aprilia rider and sixth-fastest overall. Landers, Top Pro Motorsports’ other rider Agustin Sierra, and Gus Rodio finished the session 9th, 10th, and 11th fastest, respectively.
By Friday afternoon, track conditions had greatly improved for the first of two Twins Cup qualifying sessions. And Landers and Rodio were back to their usual frontrunning form. Landers top the time sheets with a best lap time of 1:30.741. Rodio was second-fastest, about half a second off Landers’ time and more than 1.3 seconds faster than the next fastest rider. The Twins Cup’ Qualifying 2 session took place Saturday morning and saw Landers convert his provisional pole position from Friday into his fourth consecutive Twins Cup pole position of the season. Rodio nearly bested Landers when he qualified second with a lap time about one-tenth of a second off Landers’ best time.
Race 1 was the scene of some frantic action on the first lap that quickly changed to an Aprilia rout. Though Landers and Rodio were running second and third as the field of 33 riders exited Turn 2, Landers assumed the lead after making a pass at Turn 6 and, by the end of the first lap, had already built an about one second advantage to the rest of the field. Rodio made his move up to second place at the iconic Corkscrew turn and was undeterred when another rider bumped him as he was navigating the tight, twisty corner and finished the first lap in second place. From Lap 2 to the end of the 13-lap race, the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering duo built a large gap to the multi-rider battle for third place. At the end of Lap 3, Landers had pulled out a 1.4-second lead over Rodio, who had established his own 2.2-second advantage over the third-place rider. By the end of Lap 10, Landers was leading Rodio by more than 4.4 seconds, and Rodio had increased his gap to third place to more than 15 seconds. Landers ended up taking the victory by a margin of 4.180 seconds and Rodio crossed the finish line 21.417 seconds ahead of the next rider. Landers also set a new MotoAmerica Twins Cup lap record during the Saturday race with a lap time of 1:29.790 and moved into the lead in the class’ points standings. Three other Aprilia riders finished in the top 10, including Duffy Racing’s Tyler Duffy in seventh, Righteous Racing’s Ray Hofman in eighth and Arango in 10th.
Rodio got a better start in Sunday’s Race 2 and led the field through the first couple corners. Landers was running in third place for the first half of Lap 1 before moving up to second at Turn 6. He then took over the lead when Rodio made a mistake exiting Turn 6 that caused him to run wide. The Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering duo then built a large gap to the rest of the field and were taking turns setting new lap records until Landers crashed out from the lead on Lap 11. The lap before he crashed, Landers had an about 0.8 second advantage on Rodio, who was about 16 seconds ahead of the third-place rider. Rodio went on to win the race by a margin of 16.945 seconds and, with his victory and Landers’ bad luck, Rodio assumed the lead in the Twins Cup standings.
Rodio left Laguna Seca with a three-point lead in the championship chase, and Landers is just 18 points behind the second-place rider despite having not raced at the opening round at Daytona International Speedway.
Of the 33 riders entered in MotoAmerica Twins Cup for the Laguna Seca round, 16 were slated to compete aboard Aprilia RS 660s.
The MotoAmerica Twins Cup riders have a six-week break in the 2023 schedule until its back in action. The next round takes place Aug. 18-20 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Gus Rodio (96). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Gus Rodio / No. 96
“Overall, it was a great weekend for the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering team. Me and Rocco worked together all weekend long. Race 1 went good. I had a few issues off the start, but I managed to collect it and stayed consistent the whole race. It was a pretty good finish and a pretty good, best lap time for me. I’m super happy with the results overall, as well as getting the championship lead back. I couldn’t have done it without the team and Aprilia backing me. I’m looking forward to heading back to the East Coast, and we’ll take it from there.”
Rocco Landers (97). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Rocco Landers / No. 97
“It was a great weekend. On Saturday, things went amazing. Gus and I were able to work together to find the best possible setup for our Aprilia RS 660s. We had them set up really well, and they worked amazing here on the new surface. The Aprilia is definitely the bike to be on in Twins Cup, and it keeps getting better and better. Unfortunately, I kind of ruined the weekend by tossing the bike down the road in Race 2, but that aside, I’m looking forward to heading to Pittsburgh.”
More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
FACTORY HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDER KYLE WYMAN TOPS ALL-HARLEY KING OF THE BAGGERS PODIUM ON SUNDAY AT LAGUNA SECA
Vance & Hines/Harley-Davidson racer Hayden Gillim wins on Saturday
Kyle Wyman (33) leads James Rispoli (43) and Hayden Gillim (79) down the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
MILWAUKEE (July 10, 2023) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Kyle Wyman topped an all-Harley-Davidson podium on Sunday in the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California. Wyman led from start to finish in the 8-lap race on the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycle to claim his fifth win of the season. Vance & Hines/Mission Foods teammates James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim finished second and third on Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles. With the win, Kyle Wyman preserved his championship points lead in the series.
“I really wanted to get a good start today to get out front and control the pace,” said Wyman. “I was feeling pressure from Rispoli in the second half of the race, and I know James would not hesitate to take his shot at a pass, so I made sure to not give him that opportunity. It’s really great to see Harley-Davidson lock up the podium today.”
Wyman opened the weekend by topping the first qualifying session on Friday with a new King of the Baggers track record lap of 1:28.586. On Saturday Wyman won the three-lap King of the Baggers Challenge race, besting second place Gillim by 1.462 seconds.
In the Saturday feature race, Wyman dogged race leader Tyler O’Hara on the Factory Indian motorcycle before passing for the lead in Turn 2 on lap 5. O’Hara passed Wyman back to take the lead on the last lap but crashed on the entrance to the last turn of the race. Wyman fell behind him and both riders slid off the track as Gillim, Rispoli, and Sacramento Mile/Roland Sands Indian rider Bobby Fong took advantage. O’Hara and Wyman both managed to pick up their bikes and cross the finish line, O’Hara in fourth place and Wyman in ninth place. Gillim finished first, 2.919 seconds ahead of Rispoli, with Fong in third place. Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Travis Wyman finished in seventh place on his Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle.
James Rispoli (kneeling left) and Hayden Gillim (kneeling right) in victory circle with their team following King Of The Baggers Race One. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
On Sunday roles were reversed, as Kyle Wyman took the lead from the pole position with O’Hara chasing in second place, followed by Rispoli and Gillim. O’Hara fell off the pace on lap 4 and was passed by both Vance & Hines riders. Rispoli closed to within a fraction of a second on Wyman but never had an opportunity to attempt a pass. O’Hara finished fourth. Travis Wyman was sixth on the Factory Harley-Davidson® Road Glide®.
After eight of 14 races in the 2023 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Kyle Wyman leads the championship with 148 points, followed by Rispoli with 143 points, and Gillim with 130 points. O’Hara sits in fourth place with 107 points. Travis Wyman is in 10th place with 59 points.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Team Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team returns to action July 28-30 in the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Minnesota at Brainerd International Raceway near Brainerd, Minn.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Laguna Seca Race 1
Bobby Fong (Ind) Sacramento Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands
Frankie Garcia (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Kole King (H-D) King Performance
Patricia Fernandez-West (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Eric Stahl (H-D) Jiffy Tune Racing
Danny Spina (H-D) Flex CBD
Harley-Davidson invites you to enhance the 2023 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers season with some adrenaline pumping action. Check out, ‘Push the Limit,’ a film that shares the story of defending 2021 champion Kyle Wyman, teammate Travis Wyman and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle race team’s 2022 championship pursuit. Watch it now on Harley-Davidson’s YouTube channel.
Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing Has An Adversity-Filled Weekend At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz (11) leads PJ Jacobsen (99), Josh Herrin (2), Cameron Petersen (45), Richie Escalante (54), and Brandon Paasch (96) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Monterey, CA – July 10, 2023 – Mathew Scholtz and the Westby Racing team wrapped up the two-round West Coast swing in the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and unfortunately, it was a weekend that Mathew and the team would just as soon forget.
The event had three Superbike races on the schedule, and in Saturday’s race one, Mathew, who had qualified fifth earlier in the day, got into a battle for third, but he had a big crash in Rainey Curve with just two laps to go in the race. The incident brought out the red flag, and the race was called complete. Mathew ended up bruised and battered, and he had a restless night as a result
On Sunday, the topnotch Westby Racing crew had Mathew’s #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 re-built and ready to go, but Mathew himself was still sore from Saturday’s crash. He shook off the difficulties and managed to finish seventh in the morning warmup session.
Then, in Sunday morning’s race, the second of three on the weekend, Mathew finished sixth, which was a decent result, all things considered, but not where he and the team hoped to finish.
In Sunday’s afternoon race, the third and concluding race of the weekend, Mathew unfortunately ran off the track on lap seven, which took him out of seventh place and into tenth. From there, he fought valiant for position and ultimately crossed the finish line in eighth.
So, all told, it was a DNF, a sixth, and an eighth for Mathew and the team. The results also moved Mathew from fourth to fifth in the points standings.
“Well, that didn’t quite go the way we hoped,” Mathew said. “I banged myself up pretty good in Saturday’s race one, and I also created some extra work for the boys, which I am sorry about. Sunday’s two races were tough, and I did all I could given my physical condition and the circumstances. Tryg Westby, our team, our sponsors, and I expect to be at the front, and that’s why we race. To not be able to deliver on that hurts more than these bumps and bruises. But, we are a strong group who pull together, and I know Tryg and the boys are behind me 100%. We’ve got some time till the next round, so I will recover, get stronger, and we’ll be more determined than ever for these final four rounds of the season.”
The Westby Racing team will take the much-needed break in the schedule to re-group, and then, they will return to action on July 28 through 30 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, for round six of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:
ESCALANTE TOPS STRONG WEEKEND FOR VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI WITH FOURTH IN BOTH RACES
BREA, CA – July 10, 2023 – Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer upped their weekend tally to six top-fives, rounding out a trophy-winning MotoAmerica round with a pair of strong Superbike races on Sunday at WeatherTech Laguna Seca.
Race Highlights:
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Superbike
Richie Escalante continued to rack up the top-five finishes, with two more fourth-place runs.
Brandon Paasch took another step forward as he acclimates with the team.
Richie Escalante (54) continues to be consistent on his GSX-R1000R. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante continued to establish himself as one of the nation’s top Superbike pilots with his fifth and sixth top-four finish in his last eight attempts. Both of Sunday’s Superbike contests shared much in common with Saturday’s, minus the sighting lap drama. Once again, the Mexican could not fully capitalize on his front-row grid position, but he still managed strong races that emphasized his quick pace. He systematically worked his way forward aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000R to twin fourth-place results. Escalante came tantalizingly close to securing that elusive maiden premier-class podium finish during Race 3 in particular, ending up just 0.607 seconds short of third position at the flag and 2.725 seconds from the winner.
Escalante said, “Three fourth-place finishes and fourth in the championship – it was a good weekend for us. Thanks to the team for giving me a bike that worked great. I’m happy after yesterday, and we had two strong races today. On the first lap in the second race, I lost a couple of positions, but in the race, I made a pass and was able to improve my lap times. I feel like we are getting stronger with each race, and I look forward to training and recovering for the next round.”
After a pair of top-ten finishes in Race 2 and 3, Brandon Paasch (96) looks forward to the next round in Minnesota. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Brandon Paasch was impressive in his own right. Making his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki debut in what was his first-ever weekend aboard a Superbike. Paasch was both steady and quick, all while still recovering from a broken back. He finished in eighth position in Race 2 and then went one better in Race 3, taking seventh as he continued to come to grips with the Suzuki GSX-R1000R Superbike.
“It’s been great coming out here on the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike this weekend,” said Paasch. “There’s been a lot to learn coming up from the Stock 1000 last year, and then obviously not really racing yet this year. We’re taking it steady and chipping away at those front boys. We’re not too worried about the results at the moment, we’re just focused on my riding and communication with the team. I think we’re doing a good job, and everybody seems happy with what we’re doing. There’s still a lot to learn. I need to be a bit more patient on the bike and work on my fitness after returning from a big injury. We’ve got some gym work to do, but I’m not scared of hard work, so we’ll get after it.”
Team Hammer will return to action when the 2023 MotoAmerica season resumes at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 28-30.
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Race bikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 351 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
More, from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle:
Indian Motorcycle Racing Sweeps Super Hooligan at Laguna Seca, Wins American Flat Track SuperTwins at Orange County Half-Mile
Indian Motorcycle Factory Rider Jeremy McWilliams Wins Back-to-Back Races, Ties Teammate & Reigning Champion Tyler O’Hara for Series Lead
Reigning SuperTwins Champion Jared Mees Continues Hot Streak Aboard Indian FTR750, Leads Series Following Seventh Win of Season
Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian riders Jeremy McWilliams (second from left) and Tyler O’Hara (far left) on the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan podium with third-place finisher Andy DiBrino (second from right) and air-cooled class winner Hawk Mazzotta (far right) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
MINNEAPOLIS (July 10, 2023) – Following an action-packed race weekend, Indian Motorcycle Racing and factory riders Jeremy McWilliams and Jared Mees came out on top. McWilliams, piloting the Indian FTR in MotoAmerica’s Super Hooligan class, captured back-to-back wins at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Mees, reigning American Flat Track (AFT) SuperTwins champion, secured a wire-to-wire victory aboard the Indian FTR750 at the Orange County Half-Mile in Middletown, N.Y.
The action began Saturday, July 8, when McWilliams captured his first career Super Hooligan race win. McWilliams, who earned the pole position for both races, returned on Sunday, July 9, to again reach the top of the box. During Sunday’s Race 2, O’Hara gave McWilliams a run for his money, but was edged out as the veteran road racer was precise and consistent all weekend long. McWilliams’ back-to-back wins and O’Hara’s Race 2 second-place finish put the Indian Motorcycle Factory Race team in a dead-even tie for first with 106 points each.
“Jeremy was fast all weekend, and after the controversy at ‘The Ridge,’ really wanted to prove himself,” said Gary Gray, Vice President for Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “Jeremy not only has a wealth of experience racing Laguna Seca, but he’s as fierce of a competitor as there is, and we couldn’t be any more excited for him and the team to be leaving Monterey with a pair of wins.”
At the Orange County Half-Mile, Mees again showed up and reminded everyone why he’s riding for a record-tying nine Grand National Championships. After taking the hole shot in the Main and securing a five-second lead from the second-place rider, a red flag caused a restart with just five laps to go. But this didn’t slow Mees. He again jumped out in front and eventually passed the checkered flag to reach the top of the box for the seventh time this season. The win propelled him to the top of the leaderboard and marked his 36th career half-mile win, awarding him with the most half-mile wins of any rider of all time.
In the King of the Baggers class, O’Hara rode with typical zeal and courage as he battled to capture his first win of the season. O’Hara made a daring pass through the Corkscrew on the last lap, only to lose control on the final turn. Despite going down, O’Hara rushed up, picked up the 620-pound motorcycle and was able to salvage a fourth-place finish. O’Hara again finished fourth in Race 2, while McWilliams took P5.
Indian Motorcycle factory race efforts are presented by Progressive Insurance®, Mission® Foods and Medallia®, with additional support from Indian Motorcycle Motor Oil, S&S®, Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties®, Performance Finance, and J&P Cycles®.
The AFT season continues next with the Bridgeport Half-Mile on July 22, while the Mission King of the Baggers continues at Brainerd International Raceway July 28-30. The Super Hooligan class picks back up September 8-18 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
INDIAN and INDIAN MOTORCYCLE are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear a helmet, protective clothing and eyewear and insist your passenger does the same. Ride within the limits of the law and your own abilities. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
Triple podium for Tytlers Cycle Racing at Laguna Seca… Cameron and PJ on the box as Corey scores solid points in three races
The Tytlers Cycle Racing team continued their front running performances in the latest round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the iconic Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca this past weekend. A double win on Sunday for Cameron Beaubier coupled with a race one podium for PJ Jacobsen meant the squad once again had at least one bike in the top three in every race! Corey Alexander also raced to strong finishes in the weekend’s three races.
After equaling the lap record in qualifying it was Beaubier who was the man to beat, placing his BMW M1000 RR on pole position in style. His hopes of a triple win were dashed however after a turn two tumble, through no fault of his own, saw him on the floor and unable to make the restart. Cameron’s disappointment turned to delight for both him and the team on Sunday, two perfectly executed overtakes saw the superbike returnee clinch two wins in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The results keep the #6 very much in title contention. He sits second on points ahead of the next round at Brainerd.
PJ Jacobsen showed top three pace from the off, matching Beaubier on Friday to end the day second on the time sheets. A crash in final qualifying left the team with a full rebuild before lights out but a great team effort saw the #99 on the grid and ready to fight. And fight he did. Running third PJ had his sights set on second before a red flag cut short the race. Nevertheless, a podium was well deserved and a reminder that he is one to watch for the remainder of the season. A retirement in race two was a disappointment but Jacobsen bounced back to take sixth in race three to consolidate sixth in the overall points classification.
The team’s third rider Corey Alexander battled through discomfort from previous back injuries to secure three solid results on his BMW M1000 RR. The reigning Stock1000 champion finished eighth, seventh and ninth in the three twenty lap races to move into P7 overall in the championship standings.
Cameron Beaubier: “Race one sucked but I was glad it wasn’t worse than it was. My guys worked their butts off to rebuild a bike for Sunday and we turned it around. I was pretty sore but once the blood got going, I felt great on the bike and was able to bring home a couple wins.”
PJ Jacobsen: “Race one was pretty crazy after I destroyed a bike in qualifying two. The team did a great job to rebuild it and I was able to take a podium which I was happy about. I was running third in race two, but I started to suffer with a brake issue pretty early in the race. I started to fall back, which sucked after we had shown such good pace all weekend and in the end I retired. Race three went well, although I was struggling to pass. I didn’t quite have the grip to follow the others as they closed up to the leading two, which was disappointing as I genuinely feel we could have also had a podium in the final race too. It is what it is, we took at least one podium, and I will go again at Brainerd which is a track I like.”
Corey Alexander (23). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Corey Alexander: “We made some changes to the to the bike per my request for race one and ultimately went in the wrong direction. Due to some of the misfortune of some of our rivals we still managed P8 but it was not my best performance. For race two we went back to our previous setting, and I was able to run much closer to the front pack with a good pace and feeling. I felt good for race three but got pushed extremely wide off the start and lost some positions which made bridging the gap to the pack difficult. I am happy to salvage three top ten finishes, but it wasn’t the weekend for which I had hoped. Thanks to their team for their support and hard work. I am excited to head home and heal up this lingering back pain I am dealing with and come back stronger at Brainerd.”
Prize Money for Top Open Two-Stroke Racers at AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey California July 14-16
MONTEREY, Calif. – Missing the scent of a two-stroke motorcycle engine or the sound of a Yamaha TZ750 on a world class track? Hear the music, experience the two-stroke aroma, and have your senses astounded at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. If you have your own two-stroke motorcycle, come out and race it!
Mojo Yamaha and two anonymous American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) racers will sponsor a total of $3,000 in prize money for winners of AHRMA’s Open Two-Stroke race event during AHRMA’s Classic MotoFestTM of Monterey July 15 and 16. On each race day, winners in each of these following tiers within the race will be awarded $500: 125cc, 250cc, and more than 250cc. AHRMA’s Open Two-Stroke class allows any two-stroke motorcycle regardless of displacement, number of cylinders, frame type, cooling type, or date of manufacture.
A current competition license from a known organization is required and AHRMA offers weekend event membership. Race school is also offered on Thursday July 13 with required practice for all on Friday July 14. Learn more and sign up at AHRMA.org. Spectators can purchase tickets here.
About Mojo Yamaha
Mojo Yamaha is a motorcycle racing team focused on classic Yamahas. The team runs monster Formula One racers based on the Yamaha FJ1100 engine pushed out to nearly 1300cc by Larry Cook Racing, as well as the legendary 2-stroke, the Yamaha TZ750. All bikes are housed in frames produced by the renown builder Denis Curtis at CMR Racing. Josh Hayes and Mojo Yamaha won Race 4 of the International Challenge the Phillip Island Classic in 2019.
About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957 and was known at the time as Laguna Seca Raceway. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is owned by the County of Monterey and operated by A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC.
The 2023 premier event schedule includes the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest July 7-9, the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16, the Monterey Pre-Reunion August 12-13, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 16-19, Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day August 20, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey September 8-10 and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 September 28 – October 1.
ABOUT AHRMA
American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.
(From left) Peter Hickman, Faye Ho, and Josh Brookes. Photo courtesy FHO Racing Team.
BROOKES, HICKMAN AND FHO RACING REMAIN TOGETHER FOR THE 2024 SEASON
The FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team is delighted to announce that Josh Brookes and Peter Hickman will continue with the team next season in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and on the Roads, as team owner Faye Ho announced her 2024 plans at the weekend at Snetterton.
Since its launch in 2021, FHO Racing has become a dominant force in the British Championship as well as on the roads, and signing two-time British Champion Brookes for this season showed the teams’ desire to succeed in BSB.
Enjoying a good start to the year, Brookes finished on the podium in second and third, as well as claiming a race win aboard the BMW M 1000 RR at the opening round. Currently sitting fourth overall Brookes is still very much a title contender for the 2023 season. Having won two races, he has also collected three second place finishes and two third places with just five rounds completed this year.
Alongside the British Championship, FHO Racing has achieved high levels of success at the Isle of Man TT Races with Hickman, where in the team’s debut year in 2022 they won the Superbike, Superstock and the Senior TT Races. At this year’s event Hicky and FHO showed their dominance again, going on to win both Superstock races, smashing the outright TT lap record in the second race and finished the week victorious in the Senior TT.
With both riders retained early for 2024, the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team can breathe sigh of relief that they have next season already sorted and can look forward to the remainder of this season in the British Superbike Championship.
Josh Brookes:
“I think it is often the case that it takes a good portion of a year before any rider will settle properly with a new bike and team combination, so I think it is common to do multi-year contracts to see the best potential. I have always done a year-by-year deal, but in the past I have always stayed and done multi-years with the same team for that reason. I think it makes sense for me to that again and we are just improving the bike now and I think the results can improve a lot and so it was quite an easy decision and I had no reservations when I had the opportunity to extent the contract for another year and stay with the team. The crew, team and management are all first class and I am happy to continue on. It is also a little bonus to be secure in the future so you can concentrate clearly on the job that we are doing and not have to worry about what might be next year. From my side it is all very positive and I am pleased to announce this early in the year where I will be for next year.”
Peter Hickman:
“I am mega happy to be signed up so early in particular in the season ready for next year. I think it has been a good year for Josh, but it has not been a great year for me in BSB, obviously the roads have been strong for me. But not really BSB even though I have shown promise here and there like qualifying on the front row at Oulton Park and stuff. I am really happy to keep the team together really. It has worked out really well this year and the team dynamic has really worked. As much as my results haven’t been there it is not through lack of trying and it is not because we are not capable. It has just been one of those things. To get signed up this early to get sorted is absolutely mega and I am looking forward to see what we can do for the rest of this year for a start and see where we end up by the end and then see what we can do in 2024. It takes the pressure off in a lot of different ways and I am super excited about it all. It is good to get sorted!”
Faye Ho – Team Principal:
“I’m really happy to announce that both Josh and Pete will be staying with us in 2024. We’ve got a really strong team and we’ve showed that with the results on the Roads, and also with what Josh has done so far in BSB this year. Everyone works together so well and the dynamic between the riders is just fantastic, so we had no reason to disrupt that for next season, just continue on what we have been building. I think it also takes a lot of pressure off everyone getting it all sorted early, so no one is guessing what’s going to happen. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season with Josh and Pete and working with them again next year, hopefully we can be on the top step of the championship – that’s the goal I’m looking for!”
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola, in Italy. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Excitement builds as WorldSBK returns to Imola
Imola is a classic WorldSBK venue, offering thrilling races and a vibrant atmosphere. The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari carries a rich history and hosted some of the finest WorldSBK battles such as the Bayliss-Edwards’ Showdown in 2002.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the 2001 Race 2 at Imola, the victory was decided by a razor-thin margin of just 0.021 seconds separating Regis Laconi and Ruben Xaus, making it the closest finish in the circuit’s history.
IMOLA’S HOT SPOTS WITH TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU
T2-3/ “I enjoy the first sector. In some corners you cannot see as they have blind entries. The first sector is fine and it becomes quite difficult afterwards. The first straight isn’t exactly straight, it’s a long curve before entering the first of four chicanes – Variante Tamburello. This chicane is not small or tight – it’s quite a big one … left, right then a curve on the exit.”
T7/” This is the only real hairpin, with a big climb on the exit. It’s slightly off-camber here. This is a good corner for braking. And you need good acceleration on the way out to arrive at T9. It is all uphill, so you need to carry good the speed with you.”
T18/ “It’s a curving downhill section followed by two left corners. I always like an old school track and an old school bike. I am going to ride here on my Yamaha for the first time.”
WorldSBK | KEY STAT
100
With three podium finishes at Donington Park, Toprak Razgatlioglu has now accumulated a total of 99 podiums, leaving him just one step away from reaching the impressive milestone of 100.
What to look out for in Imola
As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship arrives at the historic Imola circuit, anticipation is building for a thrilling weekend of racing.
Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), currently leading the Championship standings, will be eager to make his mark at Imola, Ducati’s home round. With solid past results at this circuit, including a third-place finish in the Tissot Superpole Race and a second-place finish in Race 1 in 2019, Bautista knows what it takes to excel on this demanding track as he looks to add valuable points to his championship campaign and claim his first victory at the historic circuit.
Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) is on the verge of a significant milestone as he stands at 99 podium finishes. Imola presents a golden opportunity for him to reach the impressive milestone of 100 podiums. Despite it being his first time racing at Imola with Yamaha, Razgatlioglu will be pushing hard to achieve this feat and continue his strong form at Imola.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) will be aiming to climb up the championship standings. Imola has been a happy hunting ground for Rea in the past, with his exceptional record at this circuit including 9 victories (among them the last four WorldSBK races at Imola). As he looks to close the gap in the championship race, Rea will spare no effort in his pursuit of success.
Another rider to watch out for is Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who recently celebrated his first podium finish at Donington Park. Competing on home soil, the Italian rider will strive to build on his recent success and deliver a strong performance at Imola.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), currently holding third position in the championship standings, faces a unique challenge as he takes on Imola for the first time with a Superbike. The Yamaha rider will be eager to adapt quickly to the demanding circuit and maintain his strong position in the championship battle.
The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team will aim to carry forward their momentum after Scott Redding’s solid fourth-place finish in Race 2 at Donington Park. There’s a question mark over Redding’s teammate for the round, as Tom Sykes will be out injured after his Race 2 crash at Donington Park, whilst Michael van der Mark hopes to come back, but will only do so if he’s feeling fit enough.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Classic Italian Venue Next For Lowes And Rea
Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea (65) and Alex Lowes (22) in action at the previous round at Donington Park. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes will journey to the iconic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola circuit in Italy for the seventh round of the 2023 WorldSBK championship, which will be held between 14-16 July.
The once regular WorldSBK venue of Imola makes a somewhat unexpected welcome return to the calendar this season, offering a second immersive Italian experience after the fifth round was held at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in early June.
Both KRT riders have competed on WorldSBK machinery at Imola before, although Lowes is about to race his official Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR there for the first time.
Rea has scored no fewer than nine of his record 118 career race wins at Imola, the most recent six of his Imola successes in partnership with KRT. His first Imola win was in 2011 and his most recent two were taken the last time WorldSBK raced there, in 2019.
Lowes is yet to score a podium at Imola but has already taken a top-three finish this season, at Mandalika, in early March.
In what has been a challenging campaign at times due to current Championship rules that compromise the ultimate racing potential of the Ninja ZX-10RR, Rea is fourth in the championship rankings and Lowes is seventh after six of 12 rounds have been completed.
The 4.936km Imola circuit is as unique as it is renowned, with no fewer than four chicanes of various designs and speeds. The layout backs onto the Santerno River on two sides, limiting any potential enlargement of the long, narrow paddock. The historic town of Imola is in plain view at its eastern end while the circuit itself encloses both the community-owned Acque Minerali park and even some private residences inside its heavily undulating layout.
After the Imola event, Autodrom Most hosts the Czech Round of WorldSBK, between 28-30 July. A five weekend-long summer break follows immediately after.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “When I saw Imola was back on the calendar I was already looking forward to this one. It is a great track with a real atmosphere. You feel very close to the fans, especially with the paddock being so closely-knit and intimate. The circuit is steeped in history. It has a nice layout, undulations and some of the most iconic sections of track in the world. I am looking forward to getting there and we have good memories from 2019. With a lot of data I hope we can start Friday with a strong set-up and continue being competitive, like we were at Donington last time out. It is important to try to stay on the podium and try to score some good points for our championship battles, because we will move on to Most soon after. These next two rounds, in Italy and the Czech Republic, mark a part of the championship where we want to capitalise and be strong. I cannot wait to get stuck in.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “Imola is an historic track which has seen some amazing WorldSBK battles, most notably the Edwards/Bayliss scrap to decide the championship during the 2002 season. The layout itself is quite challenging with fast and slow changes of direction and also some elevations and drops. We haven’t ridden there since 2019 but it is a track I really enjoy. It is an ‘old school’ style of circuit, which is quite challenging physically, especially in the hot temperatures that have been forecast for race weekend. My target, as always, is to get off to a good start on Friday so we can challenge for the podiums on Saturday and Sunday – and of course have some fun.”
Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti racing) will ride for his Italian-based team once more, this time at the second home round for the Puccetti squad, which is based in Reggio Emilia – a relatively short drive along the Autostrada network from Imola.
Oliver König (Orelac Racing Movisio Kawasaki) and Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing Kawasaki) continue their seasons at Imola, looking to score championship points.
Ralph Staropoli's 1992 ROC Yamaha YZR500 500cc two-stroke Grand Prix racebike. Photo by Ralph Staropoli, courtesy AHRMA.
Bridgestone, 4SR USA and Markbilt Racebikes Sponsor Open Two Stroke Class Featuring MotoGP™ Bikes at AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16
Monterey, CA – The sound and aroma of classic MotoGP bikes are back at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Ralph Staropoli will race a 1992 ROC YZR500 and Dave Frick will race a 1992 Harris YZR500. Adrian Jasso will add even more exotic flair on his Suter MMX 500.
They will all be competing in the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Open Two Stroke race which is part of the AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey July 15th and 16th.
All racers in the Open Two Stroke class will compete for a cash purse provided by a group of individual AHRMA racers. Additional support from 4SR USA and Markbilt Racebikes has increased the purse to $4,500.
Bridgestone Motorcycles Tires will provide a set of race tires to the winners of each of these following tiers within Saturday’s Open Two Stroke race: 125cc, 250cc, and more than 250cc.
Learn more at AHRMA.org. Spectators can purchase tickets here.
About Bridgestone
Bridgestone Tires is the 2023 AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing series sponsor and offers tires for all types of motorcycles.
About 4SR USA Inc
4SR USA produces stylish and functional motorcycle clothing of the highest quality. As active bikers and competitors, all of their designs, materials, development, and testing are performed by them and their sponsored riders. Their personal experience and the experience of their sponsored riders give them the ability to continuously produce gear that is innovative, safe, and stylish.
About Markbilt Racebikes
Markbiltracebikes LLC has been owned and operated by former racer and motorcycle enthusiast Mark Rozema since 1998. Not only does Markbilt take pride in building race worthy motorcycles, but also in tuning , suspension , fabrication, welding and chassis service.
About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957 and was known at the time as Laguna Seca Raceway. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is owned by the County of Monterey and operated by A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC.
The 2023 premier event schedule includes the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16, the Monterey Pre-Reunion August 12-13, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 16-19, Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day August 20, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey September 8-10 and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 September 28 – October 1.
ABOUT AHRMA
American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Varese, 11th July 2023 – The “America” versions of MV Agusta pay tribute to the United States, the land of the free, adventure, epic journeys. And, naturally, racing.
1973 saw the launch of the iconic 750S, which flaunted the colours of the American flag to highlight the importance of this specific market. Many years later, in 2004, the “America” name became associated with another model, the Brutale 750. This motorcycle created the sports naked segment. 2012 saw another four-cylinder steal the scene: the Brutale 1090 RR America. This model was the most powerful naked ever produced by MV Agusta up to that point.
Five years later, in 2017, a new platform was introduced which gave birth to the three-cylinder Brutale 800 RR America which stood out for its combination of design, performance, and engine technology. This model was followed, in 2018, by the Dragster 800 RR America, an exclusive limited edition model of only 200 units.
Today, in 2023, MV Agusta celebrates its most important market with a new, exclusive 300-unit edition of the new Dragster RR SCS America. This uniquely numbered special edition model, available only in North America, is part of the strategic vision and emphasis of this market for the future of MV Agusta.
This new Special Edition stands out for its dedicated colour scheme that, like its predecessors, recalls the colours of the US flag and is enhanced with a dedicated seat with hand-stitched “America Special Edition” wording.
The attention to detail can be seen in the aerodynamic carbon-fiber wheel cover, complete with dedicated colour scheme, as well as on the fuel tank. The individual series number – from 001 to 300 – is laser-engraved on the top triple clamp.
The accompanying Special Parts Kit includes the transparent SCS clutch cover, dedicated motorcycle cover and a certificate of authenticity. Standing out among the special parts available as accessories is the Akrapovič titanium sports exhaust with dedicated ECU, which allows for an increase in maximum power to 148 hp at 12,800 rpm, further emphasizing the motorcycle’s aggressive character.
Based on the renowned Dragster RR SCS, this unique motorcycle combines exciting performance with premium technical components, including the SCS automatic clutch developed in collaboration with Rekluse.
The Dragster RR SCS America combines extreme attention to detail, with the technical base of a super sports bike. The compact and powerful in-line-three engine coupled with the afore mentioned SCS 3.0 clutch, which eliminates the need for the clutch lever, and the MotoGP-derived counter-rotating crankshaft and removable gearbox, are solutions that can only be found on MV Agusta models.
The electronic Ride By Wire twist grip includes counter rotation, which was only recently introduced to the range, and improves control and feeling mid-turn and makes for a more progressive cruise control deactivation. The advanced 6-axes inertial platform allows the rider to fully exploit the traction control, front-lift control and ABS with cornering function.
The 8-level adjustable steering damper adds to the dynamics and safety of the Dragster RR SCS America, even at high speeds. The braking system is designed to ensure extremely powerful and safe deceleration thanks to the dual 320 mm front brake discs with four-piston Brembo radial calipers.
The 5.5” TFT display is very easy to read in all light conditions and benefits from updated software.
The dashboard interfaces with the revolutionary MV Ride App offering a variety of customisation and connectivity features. Lastly, the Mobisat anti-theft system with geolocation offers all Dragster RR SCS America’s owners piece of mind knowing that their Motorcycle Art will always be very well looked after.
The Dragster RR SCS America will be available exclusively at select MV Agusta dealerships across North America, starting from 11th July.
2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia at the 2022 MotoGP Awards Ceremony in Spain. Photo courtesy Dorna.
MotoGP™ partners NSN to usher in new era of fan events
A new three-year agreement will give fans even more opportunities to get involved with their favourite sport – starting at the 2023 finale in Valencia
Monday, 10 July 2023
MotoGP™ is all about the fans, and as the Tissot Sprint and incredible array of fan activities continue to light up the track at each Grand Prix, there will soon be even more to look forward to for MotoGP™’s millions of devotees around the world. A new three-year agreement with NSN (Never say Never) is set to usher in a new era of fan-centred entertainment events and experiences, and it’s all set to start at the 2023 season finale in Valencia.
A NEW ERA OF EVENTS
This new partnership sees MotoGP™ rights holder Dorna Sports join forces with NSN, organiser of the OMG La Liga Music Experience, to stage events together throughout the next three years, the first of which will celebrate the history-making 2023 season in style with a new-look FIM MotoGP™ Awards ceremony in Valencia. The reimagined event will open the doors to fans and let them see their heroes rewarded for another incredible season – alongside some topflight musical guests and performances.
It won’t stop there. The 2023 Awards will be the first event as part of this new three-year partnership, but there’s plenty more in the pipeline. NSN will organise fan-centred music events alongside MotoGP™ for the duration of the agreement, expanding an already impressive MotoGP™ weekend experience to offer even more entertainment and adrenaline at a number of Grands Prix across the calendar.
FANS ARE THE FOCUS
Each event will put fans at the centre of the experience, whether it be opening the doors to the end of season Awards or offering exclusive concerts and music events at different Grands Prix. MotoGP™ offers an incredible timetable of world-leading action on track, but the party doesn’t need to stop there.
Established fans will find even more at their fingertips thanks to this new partnership, ensuring a Grand Prix delivers adrenaline-packed track action, the chance to meet their heroes AND world class music events in the evening. Newer audiences who are starting to discover the world’s most exciting motorsport will find out just how true that is – with action on and off track to offer a full weekend of incredible entertainment.
Vicenç Fábregas, Head of Live Experience, NSN (left) with Dorna Sports Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta (right). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Vicenç Fábregas, Head of Live Experience, NSN: “Collaborating with Dorna, a worldwide reference institution, consolidates our vision of merging worlds and breaking barriers in entertainment. At NSN, we are very committed to providing an enhanced entertainment product and offering unique experiences. Our goal with this partnership is to surpass the expectations of motorcycling fans and create an unforgettable event that combines the thrill of racing with the spectacle of live entertainment.”
Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer, Dorna Sports: “We’re super happy to be able to announce this new agreement with NSN and reveal another of these new, fan-focused events. A fan’s experience of a Grand Prix doesn’t pause when the bikes go back into pitlane, and we’ve already added some awesome extra experiences at the track – things like the Hero Walk, the Sprint podium, track invasions, the rider parade – to really maximise their experience. But there’s always more we can offer and we’re always thinking about how we can level it up.
“When you’re travelling to a MotoGP event, and many fans do so for various days, we want you to enjoy every possible second of it. On track, we already have an amazing show and off track, we can now increasingly say the same. Introducing a refreshed and augmented Awards ceremony offers us the perfect opportunity to invite fans to celebrate the end of the season with us and for the sport to reach new audiences, combining a celebration of MotoGP with some of the biggest names in music. So we’re excited to work with NSN and add another highlight to some Grands Prix weekends, both for our faithful fans and as another incentive for new audiences to discover the world’s most exciting motorsport.”
About NSN
NSN (Never say Never) is a global company specialized in blurring barriers between sport and entertainment to create new opportunities for brands and talents. Founded in 2018, NSN started as a representation and brokerage agency in the soccer business, with players such as Andrés Iniesta, Brahim Díaz, Bojan Krkić, Sergi Samper or, Junior Firpo. Throughout its five years of existence, it has been diversifying its activity by entering the field of entertainment and currently represents soccer players, produces audiovisual content and documentaries, promotes its own projects such as Capitten as well as investing in startups such as Vicio; organizes entertainment events such as OMG! jointly with LaLiga or the match between Vissel Kobe and FC Barcelona in Tokyo; it is the sponsorship activation agency with TP Vision and Stage Front, and manages eSports accounts for clubs such as RCD Espanyol and Real Sociedad. NSN is currently a global entertainment and sports marketing company with different verticals that aims to respond to the service, communication, and content needs of its clients such as Sony Pictures, Rakuten, TP Vision, Stage Front, Ifeel, Konami, Springfield or Wallapop, among others. The company develops business from Barcelona and Madrid (Spain), Kobe (Japan), Lima (Peru), Seoul (South Korea), Mexico City (Mexico), and New York (USA).
About MotoGP™ & Dorna Sports
The FIM Grand Prix World Championship, MotoGP™, is the world’s most exciting motorsport. 22 of the fastest riders compete on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks, creating one of the most thrilling shows on Earth. Since it was inaugurated in 1949, the sport has grown to comprise 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world.
Dorna Sports became the sole commercial and television rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship in 1991. Based in Madrid, Spain, with premises in Barcelona and a subsidiary in Rome, the Dorna Group is a leader in sports management, marketing and media, and has seen continued growth over the years; expanding from solely MotoGP™ to include other leading motorcycle racing championships across the globe.
Dave Roper on a Team Obsolete Matchless G50. Photo courtesy Team Obsolete.
AHRMA – Laguna Seca, July 14-15-16
Team Obsolete is again bringing one of our Matchless G50s for Dave Roper to ride in the 500 Premier, along with his Aermacchi 350 in 350 Grand Prix. Walt Fulton will again ride our ex-factory Harley-Davidson XR750TT.
We hope that other competitors will dust off their G50s and Manx Nortons to breathe some needed life back into 500 Premier!
Team Obsolete thanks our sponsors Vanson Leathers, Redline Synthetic Oil, AVON TYRES, and Buchanan’s Spoke and Rim, Inc.
Niki Tuuli (66) on his Triumph Street Triple RS 765 World Supersport racebike. Photo courtesy PTR Triumph.
Simon Says – The end of our Dynavolt partnership
For the last three years Dynavolt have been our main partner and title sponsor of our team. For this year, 2023 we had verbally agreed to continue and were awaiting the signing of the contract. Just two days before we left for the opening round in Australia, the President of Dynavolt informed me that they would not be able to sign the contract due to a reduction in their marketing budget.
I have to say this was a big shock to me as everything was agreed. For sure this left me in a very difficult position to say the least. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dynavolt for the three years of valuable support and on behalf of PTR Triumph, thank the President, Leonard Chen, the Managing Director of Dynavolt Tech Thailand, James Nay and everyone at Dynavolt for your support.
I have worked with Triumph and have raised budget supporting other Triumph teams in Europe and looking towards 2024. Also, of course I have had to invest a lot of my own money to replace the big hole Dynavolt have left. I am passionate about racing so I do this in good faith.
We are working very closely with Triumph to introduce a new title partner in 2024 and we are confident from both sides. I would like to say to all our fans and supporters that all is well for the rest of 2023 due to everyone around me and all our loyal partners working together for the Triumph Racing Team.
We are still fifth in the Championship with Niki Tuuli despite the last two rounds being disappointing. We and Niki are working hard to overcome this. It is difficult as the lap time is there, it is just in the race he cannot overtake and struggles to maintain consistent times for the whole race.
Harry also is not progressing after starting well with an eleventh-place finish in Australia. As an ex-rider I know how hard it is to regain confidence when things are not going well but we will keep working with Harry to improve.
I know in the past criticism has been levelled at me for working with riders who bring support to the team. Some people call this ‘pay rides’ but in my view, it is not that way at all. It is just two parties working together to achieve their goals in the best way. Trust me, whilst we may have been one of the first teams to openly admit working in this way, we are nowhere near the team who is asking riders and their partners for the most support. I have always wanted to work in the best way with all our riders and where at all possible, to work with British riders to help develop British riders in World Championship racing.
In the case of Harry Truelove this was the case and in fact I turned down opportunities which would have brought more benefit to the team to give a British rider a chance to shine at World level. I did discuss with Harry and his dad Paul just what a huge step up in level World Supersport was from British Supersport right at the start of our discussions. This has proved to be the case and while we have seen glimpses of Harry making the step there is still a long way to go and we will do everything we can to help him make that step.
Sometimes people miss the point that in Supersport there is not so much that can be changed on the bike and whilst all bikes have different strengths and weaknesses, quite soon the rider has to adapt to getting the best from his bike and make it happen. Niki has done this at times and at others times not. We have done half the season and now it is time to make it happen together.
Cameron Petersen (45) leads Jake Gagne (1), PJ Jacobsen (99), Richie Escalante (54), Mathew Scholtz (11), and Brandon Paasch (96) during MotoAmerica Superbike Race Three at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Gagne Scores Pair of Podiums in Sunday’s Superbike Doubleheader
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne keeps podium streak rolling at Laguna Seca to strengthen his MotoAmerica Superbike title defense
MARIETTA, Ga. – July 9, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne’s podium streak continued with a second and third-place finish in today’s MotoAmerica Superbike doubleheader at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The reigning champ’s 1-2-3 score on the weekend has him leaving the iconic Monterey, California, track with a 34-point lead in the championship with nine races remaining. Teammate Petersen bounced back from yesterday’s tough Race 1 to conclude the weekend with a pair of top-five finishes.
On the heels of yesterday’s victory, Gagne put in another championship ride at the doubleheader. In the first race of the day, he got a great start to claim the lead and put in some fast times early to try and break away, but he had his championship rival hot on his heels. The duo built a comfortable gap up front, and Gagne continued to knock down consistently fast laps but was passed with five laps to go and rode on to a runner-up finish.
In the final race of the weekend, Gagne was fourth and laid in wait behind a three-rider fight which included his teammate and championship rivals. On Lap 6, he passed Petersen, but the frontrunners had amassed a healthy gap ahead. Undeterred, Gagne picked up the pace to close the gap and was right behind them with four laps to go. On the final lap, he set the fastest lap of the race and advanced to the runner-up spot. Gagne crossed the line .118 of a second behind the leader but was ultimately credited with third after a two-second penalty was assessed for exceeding the track limits.
After a tough opening race of the weekend that saw him crash out of the lead on the exit of Turn 2, Petersen got a good start in today’s Race 2 from the second row of the grid in fifth. Although he was shuffled to seventh on Lap 3, he kept pushing and made his way back to the top five. In Race 3, Petersen executed another flying start to take the lead into Turn 2. It was an eventful opening lap that turned into a three-rider battle, with the South African putting in a good fight for the lead before being shuffled to third. After Gagne made his way through, he was holding down fourth but was passed with five laps to go, ending the day with another solid fifth-place finish.
Next up for the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team is Round 6 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 28-30.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Throughout the event, we made good progress and a significant step forward on the new surface and tires. We are happy with our progress. Jake rode well to catch the leaders in Race 3. I think the track limits penalty was extreme, considering the actual advantage that would be gained by jumping the green. If the goal is to emulate the world championship, then it should follow the world standards by giving track limits warnings to the riders and exacting punishments that fit the infraction.”
Jake Gagne (1) leading Cameron Beaubier (6) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“We had some good races on Sunday and made some great progress. In Race 3, those guys were messing around, and I was able to reel them in. I feel like I rode my butt off in that one, so regardless, I’m happy with how I rode. I’m happy for this team. They really helped me step it up this weekend. It definitely was some exciting racing today, and I’m excited to get to the next round!”
Cameron Petersen (45) leads PJ Jacobsen (99) and Richie Escalante (54) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Cameron Petersen – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“It was another tough weekend for me. The bike felt good, and so did I, but unfortunately I had a crash in Race 1. Race 2 and 3 were way better, and I was happy with my pace and got some good starts. At the end of the day, I just need to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and we will be fighting at the front.”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
Energica launches to first-ever EV race lead anywhere while breaking e-motorcycle record lap at Laguna Seca
Stefano Mesa (137) on his Energica Eva Ribelle RS. Photo courtesy Energica.
Stefano Mesa and Tytlers Cycle Racing have completed round five and six of the 2023 Super Hooligan National Championship, which took place at the WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway. This was another opportunity to shine for the Kit-Corsa-Clienti-equipped Energica Eva Ribelle RS, which in the capable hands of the 30-year-old Colombian rider wrote a new chapter in the history of motorcycling, as Roland Sands himself stated on commentary: “The first EV ever in the world to lead a race against ICE machinery”. Mesa exploited the immense torque of the Energica streetfighter machine to bend space and time and enter Turn One ahead of the rest of the field in Race One.
But it was Race Two that proved how the rider and the technical package are gelling together, as Mesa showed a whole different pace on Sunday and set his fastest lap in 1:31.272secs, a time that would have placed him on fourth place on the grid.
This lap-time also holds a very special meaning as it was one tenth of a second quicker of the previous, all-time two-wheeled electric lap record at Laguna Seca set by Steve Rapp in 2011, resulting in a new, historical lap record at the American raceway a dozen years afterwards while sharing the track with ICE motorcycles for a whole season – something that was never done before.
Stefano’s efforts did not go unnoticed by his peers: soon after Saturday’s Super Hooligan Race One, he had to take part in the grueling, extended 38-lap Supersport race. Many Supersport riders, including multiple MotoAmerica Superbike champion Josh Hayes praised Mesa’s speed, determination and stamina which led to a fourth-place finish in that race.
Access all resources
With a sixth and a fifth in the two Super Hooligan encounters, Mesa and Tytlers Cycle Racing are back to P6 in the overall championship standings and are only seven points away from the top five.
“Fantastic result. If you know everybody who’s behind Energica, you know this bike works. Stefano knows how to make it work and the team knows how to make it work. This is fabulous!” says Michael Kiley, Team Principal of Tytlers Cycle Racing and firm believer of the Made-in-Modena electric bike’s potential in the series.
With Laguna Seca being one of the most attended racetracks on the MotoAmerica calendar and considering the fact that is located in the most EV-friendly state in the USA, the stunning PETRONAS iona-liveried Eva Ribelle grabbed the attention of the many fans who joined in this time out. This included a number of Energica owners who rode from as far away as Los Angeles and San Diego to cheer on their hero, whose bikes crowded the entrance to Garage 20, seemingly standing guard over the #137 race bike itself.
Energica, Tytlers Cycle Racing and Stefano Mesa return to the action on September 8-10 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, for the final event of the season.
Click on the following links to watch the full encounters (YouTube) Race one – Race two
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
APRILIA RS 660 RIDERS LANDERS, RODIO, VICTORIOUS AT LAGUNA SECA FOR MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP DOUBLE HEADER
RODIO RACING – POWERED BY ROBEM ENGINEERING RIDERS WIN BY LARGE MARGINS IN BOTH CONTESTS, WITH GUS RODIO RETAKING POINTS LEAD
Six-time World Champion Max Biaggi (center) with Rocco Landers (left) and Gus Rodio (right). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
MONTEREY, CA – Laguna Seca is one of the most iconic racing circuits in the world and, this past weekend, was the scene of two commanding victories by Aprilia RS 660 riders. The Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering duo of Rocco Landers and Gus Rodio were the class of the MotoAmerica Twins Cup field. The pair recorded one win apiece, and each winning rider took the checkered flag least 16 seconds ahead of the rest of the field at the July 7-9 event.
Though Landers was unable to finish the second contest, both Landers and Rodio took turns being at the top of the Twins Cup points standings. And Rodio, who was the championship leader through the first two rounds of the season, heads to the next round with a three-point lead.
Friday morning practice commenced under slick track conditions due to overnight rain on the recently repaved circuit. That 40-minute session ended with Top Pro Motorsports’ Alex Arango as the fastest Aprilia rider and sixth-fastest overall. Landers, Top Pro Motorsports’ other rider Agustin Sierra, and Gus Rodio finished the session 9th, 10th, and 11th fastest, respectively.
By Friday afternoon, track conditions had greatly improved for the first of two Twins Cup qualifying sessions. And Landers and Rodio were back to their usual frontrunning form. Landers top the time sheets with a best lap time of 1:30.741. Rodio was second-fastest, about half a second off Landers’ time and more than 1.3 seconds faster than the next fastest rider. The Twins Cup’ Qualifying 2 session took place Saturday morning and saw Landers convert his provisional pole position from Friday into his fourth consecutive Twins Cup pole position of the season. Rodio nearly bested Landers when he qualified second with a lap time about one-tenth of a second off Landers’ best time.
Race 1 was the scene of some frantic action on the first lap that quickly changed to an Aprilia rout. Though Landers and Rodio were running second and third as the field of 33 riders exited Turn 2, Landers assumed the lead after making a pass at Turn 6 and, by the end of the first lap, had already built an about one second advantage to the rest of the field. Rodio made his move up to second place at the iconic Corkscrew turn and was undeterred when another rider bumped him as he was navigating the tight, twisty corner and finished the first lap in second place. From Lap 2 to the end of the 13-lap race, the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering duo built a large gap to the multi-rider battle for third place. At the end of Lap 3, Landers had pulled out a 1.4-second lead over Rodio, who had established his own 2.2-second advantage over the third-place rider. By the end of Lap 10, Landers was leading Rodio by more than 4.4 seconds, and Rodio had increased his gap to third place to more than 15 seconds. Landers ended up taking the victory by a margin of 4.180 seconds and Rodio crossed the finish line 21.417 seconds ahead of the next rider. Landers also set a new MotoAmerica Twins Cup lap record during the Saturday race with a lap time of 1:29.790 and moved into the lead in the class’ points standings. Three other Aprilia riders finished in the top 10, including Duffy Racing’s Tyler Duffy in seventh, Righteous Racing’s Ray Hofman in eighth and Arango in 10th.
Rodio got a better start in Sunday’s Race 2 and led the field through the first couple corners. Landers was running in third place for the first half of Lap 1 before moving up to second at Turn 6. He then took over the lead when Rodio made a mistake exiting Turn 6 that caused him to run wide. The Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering duo then built a large gap to the rest of the field and were taking turns setting new lap records until Landers crashed out from the lead on Lap 11. The lap before he crashed, Landers had an about 0.8 second advantage on Rodio, who was about 16 seconds ahead of the third-place rider. Rodio went on to win the race by a margin of 16.945 seconds and, with his victory and Landers’ bad luck, Rodio assumed the lead in the Twins Cup standings.
Rodio left Laguna Seca with a three-point lead in the championship chase, and Landers is just 18 points behind the second-place rider despite having not raced at the opening round at Daytona International Speedway.
Of the 33 riders entered in MotoAmerica Twins Cup for the Laguna Seca round, 16 were slated to compete aboard Aprilia RS 660s.
The MotoAmerica Twins Cup riders have a six-week break in the 2023 schedule until its back in action. The next round takes place Aug. 18-20 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Gus Rodio (96). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Gus Rodio / No. 96
“Overall, it was a great weekend for the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering team. Me and Rocco worked together all weekend long. Race 1 went good. I had a few issues off the start, but I managed to collect it and stayed consistent the whole race. It was a pretty good finish and a pretty good, best lap time for me. I’m super happy with the results overall, as well as getting the championship lead back. I couldn’t have done it without the team and Aprilia backing me. I’m looking forward to heading back to the East Coast, and we’ll take it from there.”
Rocco Landers (97). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Rocco Landers / No. 97
“It was a great weekend. On Saturday, things went amazing. Gus and I were able to work together to find the best possible setup for our Aprilia RS 660s. We had them set up really well, and they worked amazing here on the new surface. The Aprilia is definitely the bike to be on in Twins Cup, and it keeps getting better and better. Unfortunately, I kind of ruined the weekend by tossing the bike down the road in Race 2, but that aside, I’m looking forward to heading to Pittsburgh.”
More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
FACTORY HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDER KYLE WYMAN TOPS ALL-HARLEY KING OF THE BAGGERS PODIUM ON SUNDAY AT LAGUNA SECA
Vance & Hines/Harley-Davidson racer Hayden Gillim wins on Saturday
Kyle Wyman (33) leads James Rispoli (43) and Hayden Gillim (79) down the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
MILWAUKEE (July 10, 2023) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Kyle Wyman topped an all-Harley-Davidson podium on Sunday in the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California. Wyman led from start to finish in the 8-lap race on the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycle to claim his fifth win of the season. Vance & Hines/Mission Foods teammates James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim finished second and third on Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles. With the win, Kyle Wyman preserved his championship points lead in the series.
“I really wanted to get a good start today to get out front and control the pace,” said Wyman. “I was feeling pressure from Rispoli in the second half of the race, and I know James would not hesitate to take his shot at a pass, so I made sure to not give him that opportunity. It’s really great to see Harley-Davidson lock up the podium today.”
Wyman opened the weekend by topping the first qualifying session on Friday with a new King of the Baggers track record lap of 1:28.586. On Saturday Wyman won the three-lap King of the Baggers Challenge race, besting second place Gillim by 1.462 seconds.
In the Saturday feature race, Wyman dogged race leader Tyler O’Hara on the Factory Indian motorcycle before passing for the lead in Turn 2 on lap 5. O’Hara passed Wyman back to take the lead on the last lap but crashed on the entrance to the last turn of the race. Wyman fell behind him and both riders slid off the track as Gillim, Rispoli, and Sacramento Mile/Roland Sands Indian rider Bobby Fong took advantage. O’Hara and Wyman both managed to pick up their bikes and cross the finish line, O’Hara in fourth place and Wyman in ninth place. Gillim finished first, 2.919 seconds ahead of Rispoli, with Fong in third place. Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Travis Wyman finished in seventh place on his Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle.
James Rispoli (kneeling left) and Hayden Gillim (kneeling right) in victory circle with their team following King Of The Baggers Race One. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
On Sunday roles were reversed, as Kyle Wyman took the lead from the pole position with O’Hara chasing in second place, followed by Rispoli and Gillim. O’Hara fell off the pace on lap 4 and was passed by both Vance & Hines riders. Rispoli closed to within a fraction of a second on Wyman but never had an opportunity to attempt a pass. O’Hara finished fourth. Travis Wyman was sixth on the Factory Harley-Davidson® Road Glide®.
After eight of 14 races in the 2023 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Kyle Wyman leads the championship with 148 points, followed by Rispoli with 143 points, and Gillim with 130 points. O’Hara sits in fourth place with 107 points. Travis Wyman is in 10th place with 59 points.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Team Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team returns to action July 28-30 in the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Minnesota at Brainerd International Raceway near Brainerd, Minn.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Laguna Seca Race 1
Bobby Fong (Ind) Sacramento Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands
Frankie Garcia (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Kole King (H-D) King Performance
Patricia Fernandez-West (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Eric Stahl (H-D) Jiffy Tune Racing
Danny Spina (H-D) Flex CBD
Harley-Davidson invites you to enhance the 2023 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers season with some adrenaline pumping action. Check out, ‘Push the Limit,’ a film that shares the story of defending 2021 champion Kyle Wyman, teammate Travis Wyman and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle race team’s 2022 championship pursuit. Watch it now on Harley-Davidson’s YouTube channel.
Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing Has An Adversity-Filled Weekend At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz (11) leads PJ Jacobsen (99), Josh Herrin (2), Cameron Petersen (45), Richie Escalante (54), and Brandon Paasch (96) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Monterey, CA – July 10, 2023 – Mathew Scholtz and the Westby Racing team wrapped up the two-round West Coast swing in the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and unfortunately, it was a weekend that Mathew and the team would just as soon forget.
The event had three Superbike races on the schedule, and in Saturday’s race one, Mathew, who had qualified fifth earlier in the day, got into a battle for third, but he had a big crash in Rainey Curve with just two laps to go in the race. The incident brought out the red flag, and the race was called complete. Mathew ended up bruised and battered, and he had a restless night as a result
On Sunday, the topnotch Westby Racing crew had Mathew’s #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 re-built and ready to go, but Mathew himself was still sore from Saturday’s crash. He shook off the difficulties and managed to finish seventh in the morning warmup session.
Then, in Sunday morning’s race, the second of three on the weekend, Mathew finished sixth, which was a decent result, all things considered, but not where he and the team hoped to finish.
In Sunday’s afternoon race, the third and concluding race of the weekend, Mathew unfortunately ran off the track on lap seven, which took him out of seventh place and into tenth. From there, he fought valiant for position and ultimately crossed the finish line in eighth.
So, all told, it was a DNF, a sixth, and an eighth for Mathew and the team. The results also moved Mathew from fourth to fifth in the points standings.
“Well, that didn’t quite go the way we hoped,” Mathew said. “I banged myself up pretty good in Saturday’s race one, and I also created some extra work for the boys, which I am sorry about. Sunday’s two races were tough, and I did all I could given my physical condition and the circumstances. Tryg Westby, our team, our sponsors, and I expect to be at the front, and that’s why we race. To not be able to deliver on that hurts more than these bumps and bruises. But, we are a strong group who pull together, and I know Tryg and the boys are behind me 100%. We’ve got some time till the next round, so I will recover, get stronger, and we’ll be more determined than ever for these final four rounds of the season.”
The Westby Racing team will take the much-needed break in the schedule to re-group, and then, they will return to action on July 28 through 30 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, for round six of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:
ESCALANTE TOPS STRONG WEEKEND FOR VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI WITH FOURTH IN BOTH RACES
BREA, CA – July 10, 2023 – Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer upped their weekend tally to six top-fives, rounding out a trophy-winning MotoAmerica round with a pair of strong Superbike races on Sunday at WeatherTech Laguna Seca.
Race Highlights:
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Superbike
Richie Escalante continued to rack up the top-five finishes, with two more fourth-place runs.
Brandon Paasch took another step forward as he acclimates with the team.
Richie Escalante (54) continues to be consistent on his GSX-R1000R. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante continued to establish himself as one of the nation’s top Superbike pilots with his fifth and sixth top-four finish in his last eight attempts. Both of Sunday’s Superbike contests shared much in common with Saturday’s, minus the sighting lap drama. Once again, the Mexican could not fully capitalize on his front-row grid position, but he still managed strong races that emphasized his quick pace. He systematically worked his way forward aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000R to twin fourth-place results. Escalante came tantalizingly close to securing that elusive maiden premier-class podium finish during Race 3 in particular, ending up just 0.607 seconds short of third position at the flag and 2.725 seconds from the winner.
Escalante said, “Three fourth-place finishes and fourth in the championship – it was a good weekend for us. Thanks to the team for giving me a bike that worked great. I’m happy after yesterday, and we had two strong races today. On the first lap in the second race, I lost a couple of positions, but in the race, I made a pass and was able to improve my lap times. I feel like we are getting stronger with each race, and I look forward to training and recovering for the next round.”
After a pair of top-ten finishes in Race 2 and 3, Brandon Paasch (96) looks forward to the next round in Minnesota. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Brandon Paasch was impressive in his own right. Making his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki debut in what was his first-ever weekend aboard a Superbike. Paasch was both steady and quick, all while still recovering from a broken back. He finished in eighth position in Race 2 and then went one better in Race 3, taking seventh as he continued to come to grips with the Suzuki GSX-R1000R Superbike.
“It’s been great coming out here on the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike this weekend,” said Paasch. “There’s been a lot to learn coming up from the Stock 1000 last year, and then obviously not really racing yet this year. We’re taking it steady and chipping away at those front boys. We’re not too worried about the results at the moment, we’re just focused on my riding and communication with the team. I think we’re doing a good job, and everybody seems happy with what we’re doing. There’s still a lot to learn. I need to be a bit more patient on the bike and work on my fitness after returning from a big injury. We’ve got some gym work to do, but I’m not scared of hard work, so we’ll get after it.”
Team Hammer will return to action when the 2023 MotoAmerica season resumes at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 28-30.
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Race bikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 351 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
More, from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle:
Indian Motorcycle Racing Sweeps Super Hooligan at Laguna Seca, Wins American Flat Track SuperTwins at Orange County Half-Mile
Indian Motorcycle Factory Rider Jeremy McWilliams Wins Back-to-Back Races, Ties Teammate & Reigning Champion Tyler O’Hara for Series Lead
Reigning SuperTwins Champion Jared Mees Continues Hot Streak Aboard Indian FTR750, Leads Series Following Seventh Win of Season
Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian riders Jeremy McWilliams (second from left) and Tyler O’Hara (far left) on the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan podium with third-place finisher Andy DiBrino (second from right) and air-cooled class winner Hawk Mazzotta (far right) at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
MINNEAPOLIS (July 10, 2023) – Following an action-packed race weekend, Indian Motorcycle Racing and factory riders Jeremy McWilliams and Jared Mees came out on top. McWilliams, piloting the Indian FTR in MotoAmerica’s Super Hooligan class, captured back-to-back wins at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Mees, reigning American Flat Track (AFT) SuperTwins champion, secured a wire-to-wire victory aboard the Indian FTR750 at the Orange County Half-Mile in Middletown, N.Y.
The action began Saturday, July 8, when McWilliams captured his first career Super Hooligan race win. McWilliams, who earned the pole position for both races, returned on Sunday, July 9, to again reach the top of the box. During Sunday’s Race 2, O’Hara gave McWilliams a run for his money, but was edged out as the veteran road racer was precise and consistent all weekend long. McWilliams’ back-to-back wins and O’Hara’s Race 2 second-place finish put the Indian Motorcycle Factory Race team in a dead-even tie for first with 106 points each.
“Jeremy was fast all weekend, and after the controversy at ‘The Ridge,’ really wanted to prove himself,” said Gary Gray, Vice President for Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “Jeremy not only has a wealth of experience racing Laguna Seca, but he’s as fierce of a competitor as there is, and we couldn’t be any more excited for him and the team to be leaving Monterey with a pair of wins.”
At the Orange County Half-Mile, Mees again showed up and reminded everyone why he’s riding for a record-tying nine Grand National Championships. After taking the hole shot in the Main and securing a five-second lead from the second-place rider, a red flag caused a restart with just five laps to go. But this didn’t slow Mees. He again jumped out in front and eventually passed the checkered flag to reach the top of the box for the seventh time this season. The win propelled him to the top of the leaderboard and marked his 36th career half-mile win, awarding him with the most half-mile wins of any rider of all time.
In the King of the Baggers class, O’Hara rode with typical zeal and courage as he battled to capture his first win of the season. O’Hara made a daring pass through the Corkscrew on the last lap, only to lose control on the final turn. Despite going down, O’Hara rushed up, picked up the 620-pound motorcycle and was able to salvage a fourth-place finish. O’Hara again finished fourth in Race 2, while McWilliams took P5.
Indian Motorcycle factory race efforts are presented by Progressive Insurance®, Mission® Foods and Medallia®, with additional support from Indian Motorcycle Motor Oil, S&S®, Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties®, Performance Finance, and J&P Cycles®.
The AFT season continues next with the Bridgeport Half-Mile on July 22, while the Mission King of the Baggers continues at Brainerd International Raceway July 28-30. The Super Hooligan class picks back up September 8-18 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
INDIAN and INDIAN MOTORCYCLE are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear a helmet, protective clothing and eyewear and insist your passenger does the same. Ride within the limits of the law and your own abilities. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
Triple podium for Tytlers Cycle Racing at Laguna Seca… Cameron and PJ on the box as Corey scores solid points in three races
The Tytlers Cycle Racing team continued their front running performances in the latest round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the iconic Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca this past weekend. A double win on Sunday for Cameron Beaubier coupled with a race one podium for PJ Jacobsen meant the squad once again had at least one bike in the top three in every race! Corey Alexander also raced to strong finishes in the weekend’s three races.
After equaling the lap record in qualifying it was Beaubier who was the man to beat, placing his BMW M1000 RR on pole position in style. His hopes of a triple win were dashed however after a turn two tumble, through no fault of his own, saw him on the floor and unable to make the restart. Cameron’s disappointment turned to delight for both him and the team on Sunday, two perfectly executed overtakes saw the superbike returnee clinch two wins in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The results keep the #6 very much in title contention. He sits second on points ahead of the next round at Brainerd.
PJ Jacobsen showed top three pace from the off, matching Beaubier on Friday to end the day second on the time sheets. A crash in final qualifying left the team with a full rebuild before lights out but a great team effort saw the #99 on the grid and ready to fight. And fight he did. Running third PJ had his sights set on second before a red flag cut short the race. Nevertheless, a podium was well deserved and a reminder that he is one to watch for the remainder of the season. A retirement in race two was a disappointment but Jacobsen bounced back to take sixth in race three to consolidate sixth in the overall points classification.
The team’s third rider Corey Alexander battled through discomfort from previous back injuries to secure three solid results on his BMW M1000 RR. The reigning Stock1000 champion finished eighth, seventh and ninth in the three twenty lap races to move into P7 overall in the championship standings.
Cameron Beaubier: “Race one sucked but I was glad it wasn’t worse than it was. My guys worked their butts off to rebuild a bike for Sunday and we turned it around. I was pretty sore but once the blood got going, I felt great on the bike and was able to bring home a couple wins.”
PJ Jacobsen: “Race one was pretty crazy after I destroyed a bike in qualifying two. The team did a great job to rebuild it and I was able to take a podium which I was happy about. I was running third in race two, but I started to suffer with a brake issue pretty early in the race. I started to fall back, which sucked after we had shown such good pace all weekend and in the end I retired. Race three went well, although I was struggling to pass. I didn’t quite have the grip to follow the others as they closed up to the leading two, which was disappointing as I genuinely feel we could have also had a podium in the final race too. It is what it is, we took at least one podium, and I will go again at Brainerd which is a track I like.”
Corey Alexander (23). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Corey Alexander: “We made some changes to the to the bike per my request for race one and ultimately went in the wrong direction. Due to some of the misfortune of some of our rivals we still managed P8 but it was not my best performance. For race two we went back to our previous setting, and I was able to run much closer to the front pack with a good pace and feeling. I felt good for race three but got pushed extremely wide off the start and lost some positions which made bridging the gap to the pack difficult. I am happy to salvage three top ten finishes, but it wasn’t the weekend for which I had hoped. Thanks to their team for their support and hard work. I am excited to head home and heal up this lingering back pain I am dealing with and come back stronger at Brainerd.”
A 1978 Yamaha TZ750 vintage racebike. Photo by Lorraine Crussell, courtesy AHRMA.
Prize Money for Top Open Two-Stroke Racers at AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey California July 14-16
MONTEREY, Calif. – Missing the scent of a two-stroke motorcycle engine or the sound of a Yamaha TZ750 on a world class track? Hear the music, experience the two-stroke aroma, and have your senses astounded at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. If you have your own two-stroke motorcycle, come out and race it!
Mojo Yamaha and two anonymous American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) racers will sponsor a total of $3,000 in prize money for winners of AHRMA’s Open Two-Stroke race event during AHRMA’s Classic MotoFestTM of Monterey July 15 and 16. On each race day, winners in each of these following tiers within the race will be awarded $500: 125cc, 250cc, and more than 250cc. AHRMA’s Open Two-Stroke class allows any two-stroke motorcycle regardless of displacement, number of cylinders, frame type, cooling type, or date of manufacture.
A current competition license from a known organization is required and AHRMA offers weekend event membership. Race school is also offered on Thursday July 13 with required practice for all on Friday July 14. Learn more and sign up at AHRMA.org. Spectators can purchase tickets here.
About Mojo Yamaha
Mojo Yamaha is a motorcycle racing team focused on classic Yamahas. The team runs monster Formula One racers based on the Yamaha FJ1100 engine pushed out to nearly 1300cc by Larry Cook Racing, as well as the legendary 2-stroke, the Yamaha TZ750. All bikes are housed in frames produced by the renown builder Denis Curtis at CMR Racing. Josh Hayes and Mojo Yamaha won Race 4 of the International Challenge the Phillip Island Classic in 2019.
About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957 and was known at the time as Laguna Seca Raceway. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is owned by the County of Monterey and operated by A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC.
The 2023 premier event schedule includes the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest July 7-9, the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16, the Monterey Pre-Reunion August 12-13, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 16-19, Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day August 20, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey September 8-10 and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 September 28 – October 1.
ABOUT AHRMA
American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
April 12, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
